Sisters of Mercy - First and Last and Always (1985)/Floodland (1987)

 

Artist: Sisters of Mercy

Album: First and Last and Always

Release: (1985)

Label: Merciful Release

Tracklist:

1. Black Planet

2. Walk Away

3. No Time To Cry

4. A Rock And A Hard Place

5. Marian (Version)

6. First And Last And Always

7. Possession

8. Nine While Nine

9. Logic

10. Some Kind Of Stranger

Artist: Sisters Of Mercy

Album: Floodland

Release: 1987

Label: Merciful Release

Tracklist:

1. Dominion/Mother Russia

2. Flood I

3. Lucretia My Reflection

4. 1959

5. This Corrosion

6. Flood II

7. Driven Like The Snow

8. Never Land (A Fragment)

Dim candles, occult rites, red roses, blood filled chalices, ridiculous sunglasses: Sisters of Mercy.

Rivaling The Cure's self-pity and brooding, Sisters of Mercy are a pillar in the goth canon, and have stood as a high water mark for this particular brand of darkwave since the early 80s. Mind-blowing bass tone, deep crooning vocals, goth synth love, and expansive atmosphere make both of these LPs a must have for anyone who doesn't give a shit that the New York Times won't shut up about "goths" with pastel hair, and just wants to brood alone in the dark. Grab a bottle of blood red wine (at least one per person involved) and start with "Marian," you won't regret it.

Downloads in comments.

Autonomy - The Art Of Work In The Age Of Digital Reproduction (2012)

Artist: Autonomy
Album: The Art Of Work In The Age Of Digital Reproduction
Release: 2012
Label: Dirt Cult

Tracklist:
1. Homostasis Stasis
2. Public Faith
3. Dumb Punk
4. Contemptus Mundi
5. Library of Alexandria
6. No Need
7. Kistvaen
8. Gods Die
9. Work Order
10. Monuments Men
11. Fear Hate
12. Culture Tomb

I've been anticipating this LP ever since I first got my hands on Autonomy's 2011 demo and it was well worth the wait. The production is more clear, the songs more polished, and the energy and atmosphere of the demo intact. Frantic and dancable, this record takes from a spectrum of punk and post-punk influences, landing somewhere between the fuzzed-out, political Crass records tradition, and more dark atmospheric new wave. Don't pass this one up, you'll regret it:


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DEEP HEAT - Low Lights (2011)

Artist: DEEP HEAT
Album: Low Lights EP
Release: 2011
Label: s/r (as far as I can tell)

Tracklist:
1. Sideways
2. Green Box
3. When It Hums
4. Low Lights
5. Clean Break
6. Negative Though
7. Tangent Circles
8. White Light

Sharing several members with the recently toured Infinite Void, these Australians came through Willimantic, CT for round two last night. They played at Willimantic Records as before, and were equally as kick ass under this moniker/line up change. DEEP HEAT's frantic brand of dark pop is outwardly darkwave influenced, filled with fast paced hooks and dreamy atmosphere. Vocal duties are shared between three members, imparting some diversity to their sound. And the ever-grooving base lines are sure to please. Check it out, you surely won't be disappointing:
 

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Lost Tribe - Tour Tape CS/Lost Tribe 02 (2012) [updated*]

Artist: Lost Tribe
Album: Lost Tribe 02 CS
Release: 2012
Label: s/r


Tracklist:
1. Psychic Death 
2. Life Prison
3. Asylum
4. Coma
5. Darkness


*The download link on this post now includes the full tape. Also, I have a few extra copies of the tape for sale. If you're interested, you can contact me at maloney_andrew_t(at)yahoo(dot)com.


Lost Tribe are a peace punk/goth project out of Richmond, VA. In 2010 they released The Dawn CS, a demo that would constitute much of their excellent s/t full length on Blind Prophet (you can still get it here!), as well as their Unsound 7" single, which includes possibly the best song from the demo, Unsound (hear it below).

Now they are touring, and soon, lucky for all of us, they will be releasing a tour tape, also s/t. Three of the five tracks on this tape are already available to your welcoming ears on their bandcamp (and below). The new material is less frantic and more synth heavy than previous releases, bringing a more prevalent goth tone to the tape, reminiscent of classics such as Bauhaus. Also added to this new sound is a dark psychedelic dimension that makes these five songs much more atmospheric and brooding than previous efforts. Keep an eye out for upcoming tour dates so you can get your hands on one of these. Lost Tribe may be coming to catacomb near you.





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Population - s/t 7" (2011)

Artist: Population
Album: s/t 7"
Release: 2011
Label: BLVD Records

Population are a post-punk/darkwave outfit out of Chicago. I especially like this 7" of theirs, as it simultaneously showcases pop sensibility, and maintains a certain dark atmosphere reminiscent of the dark punk scene that revolved around the Batcave club in London during the early to mid '80s (Alien Sex Fiend, etc.). I don't always enjoy this particular brand of goth sound, but the Ian Curtis vocals bring these tracks together in a tasteful way, not always achieved by bands of that bygone era. Recommended for any fans of the usual dark post-punk/goth staples. 


Bonus: There are still copies left, you can check them out below.



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Hexentanz - blutverlust (2012)

Artist: Hexentanz
Album: blutverlust
Release: 2012
Label: s/r


Tracklist:
1. Coven
2. Stake
3. Sorry
4. Night
5. Attic


Hexentanz are a two-man bedroom project out of Brooklyn playing eerie, atmospheric darkwave. A hypnotizing journey through dark corridors, haunted realms, and sacrificial ceremonies awaits anyone who picks up this EP, this group's debut release. If you're into it, you can stagger through the fog, ignore the terrifying chants surrounding you, and either acquire these mp3s for a nominal fee on Hexentanz's bandcamp, or email jakedibeler(at)gmail(dot)com and snag a tape. Enjoy the numb hymns kids.



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The Sound - From the Lions Mouth (1981)

Artist: The Sound
Album: From the Lions Mouth
Release: 1981
Label: Korova Records


Tracklist:
1. Winning
2. Sense of Purpose
3. Contact the Fact
4. Skeletons
5. Judgement
6. Fatal Flaw
7. Possession
8. The Fire
9. Silent Air
10. New Dark Age


The Sound were an English darkwave/post-punk band that formed in 1979, and were fronted by Adrian Borland, a tragic figure who suffered mental instability until his suicide decades later. Their lyrics are lonely, their hooks seductive, and Adrian's vocals desperate. "From the Lions Mouth" is their second LP, released on Korova Records, a label owned by Warner Brothers. Korova always pushed the band to break through to commercial success, but The Sound never chose to compromise their sound to achieve more than cult status. Good thing, because what makes this LP fantastic is its balance between insatiable pop and the dark post-punk movement that bloomed in the early 80's. If for nothing else, this record is worth loving for its final track "New Dark Age," an apocalyptic masterpiece with bone shaking bass synth.

Here it comes, a new dark age.

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Lost Tribe - S/T Tour CS 2012

Artist: Lost Tribe
Album: s/t Tour CS
Release: 2012
Label: s/r


Tracklist (incomplete, will be completed upon tape release):
1. Coma
2. Psychic Death
3. Darkness


Lost Tribe are a peace punk/goth project out of Richmond, VA. In 2010 they released The Dawn CS, a demo that would constitute much of their excellent s/t full length on Blind Prophet (you can still get it here!), as well as their Unsound 7" single, which includes possibly the best song from the demo, Unsound (hear it below).

Now they are touring, and soon, lucky for all of us, they will be releasing a tour tape, also s/t. Three of the five tracks on this tape are already available to your welcoming ears on their bandcamp (and below). The new material is less frantic and more synth heavy than previous tracks,  but retain the fast-paced punk melodies that make this band so damn good. Keep an eye out for upcoming tour dates so you can get your hands on one of these. Lost Tribe may be coming to catacomb near you.





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Spectres - Discography CS (2012)

Artist: Spectres
Album: Discography CS
Release 2012
Label: Crysis Records


Tracklist: 
1. Pattern Recognition
2. Time is Out
3. Stasi
4. Romans
5. Our Time
6. Loginas
7. City of Ghost
8. Standing East
9. Last Days
10 Decline And Fall
11. Revolutions
12. Visions of a New World
13. Complications
14. Cold War
15. Message From Above


Spectres is a fantastic anarcho/darkwave outfit out of Vancouver. The obvious comparison is Joy Division, but Spectres puts their own spin on this classic blueprint. Endless hooks make this release catchy as hell. Unfortunately, these tapes are sold out, but this is not a band to overlook.



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PDX Compilation Volume 2

Artist: Various
Album: PDX Compilation Volume 2
Release: 2012
Label: Blackwater Records


Tracklist:
1. Crusaders + Banshees (Arctic Flowers)
2. Tension Building (The Bellicose Minds)
3. With You (Funeral Parade)
4. Mortality (Moral Hex)


Great comp of the best in Portland dark punk. I can't even say there is a highlight on this album, its all just too damn good. All of these bands have other releases, and as you'll definitely be interested in other material by them, you'll be excited to know both Arctic Flowers and The Bellicose Minds put out records last year, Reveries and Whisper in Darkness respectively, that you can still get your hands on. Demos and such from all of these bands are also worth looking into. Unfortunately physicals are harder to come by, but completely worth the hunt. Happy searching.

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Autonomy - Demo CS (2011)

Artist: Autonomy
Album: Demo CS
Release: 2011
Label: Cut the Cord Records


Tracklist:
1. Homostasis Stasis
2. Fear Hate
3. No Need
4. Kistvaen
5. Schism
6. For What Cause
7. Public Faith
8. Gulag Romeo


"Dark melodic anarcho post-punk. Somewhere between The Mob (UK) and The Cure." Definite hardcore influences make this release stand out as a stripped down, more aggressive take on the current dark punk/goth trend. This demo is a must hear, and you can still get your hands on it.

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